Information on individual educational components (ECTS-Course descriptions) per semester

  
Degree programme:Master Computer Science
Type of degree:FH Master´s Degree Programme
 Full-time
 Summer Semester 2026
  

Course unit titleCommunication Systems
Course unit code024913120304
Language of instructionEnglish
Type of course unit (compulsory, optional)Elective
Semester when the course unit is deliveredSummer Semester 2026
Teaching hours per week2
Year of study2026
Level of course unit (e.g. first, second or third cycle)Second Cycle (Master)
Number of ECTS credits allocated4
Name of lecturer(s)Patrick RITSCHEL


Prerequisites and co-requisites

Basics of network technology (TCP / IP), basics of programming in any programming language.

Course content

This lecture provides the "technical substructure" of communication systems:

  • Layer architectures, transfer of data between the layers
  • Practical analysis based on specific source code examples
  • Protocols and practical protocol design
  • Topologies, buses, arbitration procedures, addressing procedures
  • Bit transmission (wired and wireless), interference protection
  • (Real) time behavior, determinism and synchronization (IEEE1588)
  • Field buses
  • Stacks: TCP / IP, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Modbus, CAN (open), LoraWAN, NFC
Learning outcomes

The students

  • understand the importance of a clear separation of layers. They can apply this knowledge to and analyze protocol stacks.
  • can develop independent protocols on the basis of this knowledge and / or make extensions to existing protocols and anchor them in the protocol stack.
  • know different communication topologies and infrastructures and understand the resulting framework conditions for independent implementation.
  • can evaluate the importance of fieldbuses in practice and apply them in a targeted manner.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Concepts and basics as a lecture. The students each work on a specific technology in small teams, present the results in the plenary and also prepare an exercise unit on this technology in which all students participate.

Assessment methods and criteria

Evaluation of the topics and exercises.

Comment

 None

Recommended or required reading
Zurawski, Richard (ed.) (2017): Industrial Communication Technology Handbook. 2nd Ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Available at: DOI: 10.1201/b17365
Mode of delivery (face-to-face, distance learning)

Face-to-face event

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